J7 scheme would “double traffic queues”


A SCHEME to improve M20 J7 would dou- ble existing traffic queues, it has been claimed. In April last year, Maidstone Council granted planning permission for the erec- tion of an office building at Eclipse Park, Sittingbourne Road, Maidstone, on condi- tion that the applicant, Gallagher Proper- ties, undertakes traffic improvements. But the developer, which says it has the backing of Kent Highway Services, insists any proposed measures would actually add to congestion. In its application to remove the condition,


Tasty deal for charity CHARITY lunches are back on the menu at a Bearsted Green restaurant which has raised thousands of pounds for the Heart of Kent Hospice. Nick and Karen Evenden,


who own Souffle, have raised more than £30,000 for the hos- pice over the past 13 years, and are hoping to add a further £1,000 this year. Diners can enjoy a two- course lunch for just £12 per person in the stunning 16th century restaurant. All they are asked is to make


a donation to the hospice at the end of their meal. The offer is available Tuesday to Friday from February 1 to March 30, from June 5 to July 27 and then from October 2 to November 30. For reservations, call 01622 737065.


the supporting statement said: “The junc- tion signalisation scheme does not deliver any traffic capacity benefit whatsoever and, indeed, significantly worsens the operation of the junction to the extent that traffic queues on the A249 would extend some 3.7km to the top of Detling Hill to the north, and over 2km south into Maidstone town centre, effectively more than doubling ex- isting maximum queues. “KHS have expressed reservations in light


of these projected impacts and there is no reasonable alternative scheme that would be relevant to the developments in question


and give rise to the same effect, that being the desire of the highways authority to con- trol traffic flows onto and off the M20 main- line.


“The potential detriment from the imple- mentation of the scheme would be expected to severely impact on the economic com- petitiveness of Maidstone and highway safety.”


Gallagher further claimed that traffic


flows between Maidstone town centre and the M20 have reduced by up to 30% since 2006, “suggesting a reduction in Maidstone economic activity”.


Officers sniff out cannabis factory


A CANNABIS factory has been shut down after Bearsted neigh- bourhood police officers followed their noses to locate the crime scene.


Officers on foot patrol in Downswood got wind of a tell-tale


scent and traced it to an address in Lenside Drive. After obtaining a search warrant, police raided the property


and 20 cannabis plants were discovered. Sergeant Colin Whitfield said: “This was a really good piece


of work that has resulted in a cannabis factory being dismantled and plants being destroyed. I’d encourage anyone who suspects that they can smell cannabis being cultivated to provide their local officer with the information and we will do the rest.” A41 year-old man from Bearsted was arrested on suspicion of cultivating cannabis and released on bail until March 29.


Householder alert over doorstep callers


HOUSEHOLDERS are being warned to be wary of door-to- door callers following a spate of burglaries in the Penenden Heath area of Maidstone. Police believe a man handing out company fliers could be


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linked to the burglaries, using them as a means to gain infor- mation about properties in the area. Call the police non-emer-


gency number of 101 if you see anythign suspicious.


Married at Leeds THE Chandeliers Drama Group is presenting JB Priestley’s pop- ular classic comedy ‘When We Are Married’ at Leeds Memo- rial Hall on February 22 and 23. Theplayisfullofwittydia-


logue and has been entered for the Kent Drama Association Full Length Play Festival. Tickets are priced £9, £8 and


£4.50 and available from Jill and Adrian Cheeseman on 01622 718455.


WI member appeal


THE ladies of Leeds WI are looking for new members. As well as the usual interest-


ing array of guest speakers, the diary is packed with planned outings and trips. Meetings take place at Leeds Village Hall on the second Thursday of the month at 7.30pm. Contact Jane Newsome (01622 86258)


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